New Delhi’s premier classical dance institution, Kalyani Kala Mandir, has organised a unique programme known as “Anaahat”(A Heart’s Journey) that combines visual art with performing arts.
Siblings Neha and Rashmi Khanna shares the evening with paintings and dance. While Neha is a painter, Rashmi is a professional Bharata Natyam exponent and mentor and heads the Kalyani Kala Mandir. Anaahat delves into the essence of human connection, expressing love and emotion through diverse artistic medium. On Saturday 15th February, the evening commences with the intense and colourful paintings by Neha Khanna, followed with the annual neo-classical presentation portraying six choreographies with the exposition of Bharata Natyam,Salsa, Kathak, contemporary and modern dance, blending well with the folk traditional dances in order to resonate audiences of all generations. The exhibition will commence at 6pm followed with the dance presentation that would last for one hour and would commence at 7pm, the venue is NCUI,August Kranti Marg, Siri Institutional Area, NIPCCD campus, Hauz Khas, New Delhi.
Neha Khanna is a professional chartered accountant and a financial consultant and shares her passion with paintings and music. Neha holds a MBA degree from Said Business School, University of Oxford, she was inclined towards drawings and paintings when she accompanied her eight old niece to drawing classes. Away from the world of cost accounting, Neha explores landscapes and portraits with colourful paintings. In August 2023 Neha had her exhibition with the theme “Transience”, capturing her journey through time and places, she also loves to delve into the varied aspects of education, mental health and well being of humanity.
On the contrary, Guru Rashmi Khanna started learning Bharata Natyam at a tender age under the guidance of Guru Kalyani Shekar and follows the “bani” of the veteran mentor Guru Dandayudhapani Pillai. Kalyani Kala Mandir was established in the year 2002 and the dance institution holds the distinction of maintaining the purity and the quality of classical dance with classical Bharata natyam performances, further more in order to appeal to a larger section of the audience, Rashmi has been venturing into profound themes that relate to the philosophy and well being of life and human existence, without disturbing the traditional grammar and technique of dance and also to appeal to a larger section of the audience.
Guru Rashmi Khanna says “I do not believe in the quantity of students, what I look forward is the quality, for more than two decades I have been teaching students who hail from varied cultural backgrounds and they have different aspirations in life but when they come to my class I want them to realise that classical dance is not just physical, it’s the mental conditioning of the mind as you try to relate to the supreme level of consciousness and godliness, hence classical dance is the expression of the soul and the varied movements and expressions are the medium to reach to a higher level of bliss and happiness, which does not happen overnight, it’s a long process of patience, hardwork and determination and its then you realise that classical dance is rejuvenation that enhances your well being and mental conditioning. In other words classical dances should inform, entertain and enlighten people of all sections of the audience on the global platform”.
